Police beat for Sept. 18, 2008

Published: Thursday, September 18, 2008 at 6:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, September 18, 2008 at 6:04 a.m.

Ocala - A white powdery substance received Sept. 11 in an envelope addressed to the Star-Banner was sugar, according to a results report received by the Ocala Police Department on Wednesday.

The test was conducted by the state's Health Department.

The envelope, opened by accounting clerk Eliud Rodriguez, contained a line of white powder at the bottom. There was no letter inside. An investigation is ongoing and the envelope is being tested for fingerprints and other evidence.

Anyone with information about the case can call the OPD at 369-7000, Crime Stoppers at 368-STOP or the Crime Line at 369-7061, or log on to www.ocalacrimestoppers.com.

Ocala - Ocala police arrested three men Tuesday and charged them with six counts of criminal mischief/graffiti vandalism after the trio reportedly spray-painted Dumpsters, a building and a truck, according to authorities.

After receiving the call about the illegal activities, police responded to the 2600 block of East Silver Springs Boulevard and saw four people coming from the back of two department stores.

Managers from Buddy's Home Furnishings told officers they saw three of the four, later identified as Nicholas Christian Eckardt, 20, Austin Dale Rumans, 18, and Maxim Moritz White, 19, using paint-type markers to deface at least four trash Dumpsters, a cargo truck and a door at Big Lots.

<p>Ocala - A white powdery substance received Sept. 11 in an envelope addressed to the Star-Banner was sugar, according to a results report received by the Ocala Police Department on Wednesday.</p><p>The test was conducted by the state's Health Department.</p><p>The envelope, opened by accounting clerk Eliud Rodriguez, contained a line of white powder at the bottom. There was no letter inside. An investigation is ongoing and the envelope is being tested for fingerprints and other evidence.</p><p>Anyone with information about the case can call the OPD at 369-7000, Crime Stoppers at 368-STOP or the Crime Line at 369-7061, or log on to www.ocalacrimestoppers.com.</p><p>Ocala - Ocala police arrested three men Tuesday and charged them with six counts of criminal mischief/graffiti vandalism after the trio reportedly spray-painted Dumpsters, a building and a truck, according to authorities.</p><p>After receiving the call about the illegal activities, police responded to the 2600 block of East Silver Springs Boulevard and saw four people coming from the back of two department stores.</p><p>Managers from Buddy's Home Furnishings told officers they saw three of the four, later identified as Nicholas Christian Eckardt, 20, Austin Dale Rumans, 18, and Maxim Moritz White, 19, using paint-type markers to deface at least four trash Dumpsters, a cargo truck and a door at Big Lots.</p><p>The graffit included the words "KDC" and "SKATE."</p>